They Can’t Be Serious – David Sirota (1/15/09)

The Washington Post reports that the economic recovery package Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are proposing includes a lot of good stuff – aid to cities and states, increased unemployment insurance and food stamps. But here’s the really bad part: The Post says the package “includes about $85 billion worth of infrastructure spending, most for highway and bridge construction.” That’s it – $85 billion in an $850 billion bill.

That’s bad enough, but Sirota doesn’t even touch on the worst of it. Also according to the Post, the bill contains:

…$90 billion for Medicaid assistance…

If Obama was halfway serious about reforming health care, he wouldn’t be spending more than 10% of the stimulus bill on Medicaid when the entire system needs to be overhauled. And if he was serious about stimulating the economy in the most effective and efficient way, this bill wouldn’t be made up of $300 billion worth of tax cuts. Unfortunately, all Obama is concerned about is bipartisanship. How’s that working out, chief?

President-elect Barack Obama’s hopes of scoring significant bipartisan support for his stimulus package are fading, as the debate over the nearly $800-billion plan morphs into a classic Washington impasse: two rival parties in irreconcilable conflict.

Obama had hoped to induce Republicans to back his plan by putting forward a series of business tax cuts. But GOP support is peeling off as the party crafts alternative ideas that rely even more heavily on tax reductions.